Optical connector, cable, and optical communication device

Abstract

A collimator lens 311 emits by converting a light signal from an optical fiber cable 20 to a collimated light, for example. The collimator lens 311 is retained in a plug housing 315 coupled to a reception side optical connector of the light signal. When the plug housing 315 is not coupled to the reception side optical connector, the pressing portion 313 a sets the position of the collimator lens 311 at a position at which the emitted light signal has a predetermined divergence angle. When the optical connectors of the transmission side and the reception side are not connected, the light signal emitted from the optical connector of the transmission side is dispersed, and therefore emission of the light signal is prevented from giving a bad influence to a visual perception function or the like.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical connector comprising:
 a collimator lens for emitting by converting a light signal from a light transmission path or a light source to a collimated light; 
 a housing configured to retain the collimator lens and be coupled to a reception side optical connector of the light signal; and 
 a lens drive unit configured to drive the collimator lens in such a manner that a light signal emitted via the collimator lens has a predetermined divergence angle, when the housing is not coupled to the reception side optical connector, 
 wherein the lens drive unit includes
 a lens retention portion that is movable in a state retaining the collimator lens, and 
 a pressing portion configured to press the lens retention portion in a direction of a position at which the light signal emitted via the collimator lens has a divergence angle, and 
 
 wherein the lens retention portion turns about a center at a shaft provided at a side end side of the collimator lens in an orthogonal direction to an optical axis of the collimator lens. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical connector according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the lens retention portion moves to a position at which the light signal emitted via the collimator lens becomes a collimated light, when the reception side optical connector is coupled to a predetermined position. 
 
     
     
       3. The optical connector according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the lens retention portion moves in an optical axis direction of the collimator lens. 
 
     
     
       4. The optical connector according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the lens drive unit changes a focal length of the collimator lens in such a manner that the light signal emitted via the collimator lens has a divergence angle. 
 
     
     
       5. The optical connector according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the predetermined divergence angle is an angle at which a light amount of a predetermined region at a position a predetermined distance away from the collimator lens is equal to or smaller than a preset light amount. 
 
     
     
       6. A cable comprising:
 a collimator lens for emitting by converting a light signal from an end surface of an optical fiber cable to a collimated light; 
 a housing configured to retain the optical fiber cable and the collimator lens and coupled to a reception side optical connector of the light signal; and 
 a lens drive unit configured to drive the collimator lens in such a manner that a light signal emitted via the collimator lens has a predetermined divergence angle, when the housing is not coupled to the reception side optical connector, 
 wherein the lens drive unit includes
 a lens retention portion that is movable in a state retaining the collimator lens, and 
 a pressing portion configured to press the lens retention portion in a direction of a position at which the light signal emitted via the collimator lens has a divergence angle, and 
 
 wherein the lens retention portion turns about a center at a shaft provided at a side end side of the collimator lens in an orthogonal direction to an optical axis of the collimator lens. 
 
     
     
       7. A light communication device comprising:
 a light signal output unit; 
 a collimator lens for emitting by converting a light signal from the light signal output unit to a collimated light; 
 a housing configured to retain the collimator lens and be coupled to a reception side optical connector of the light signal; and 
 a lens drive unit configured to drive the collimator lens in such a manner that a light signal emitted via the collimator lens has a predetermined divergence angle, when the housing is not coupled to the reception side optical connector, 
 wherein the lens drive unit includes
 a lens retention portion that is movable in a state retaining the collimator lens, and 
 a pressing portion configured to press the lens retention portion in a direction of a position at which the light signal emitted via the collimator lens has a divergence angle, and 
 
 wherein the lens retention portion turns about a center at a shaft provided at a side end side of the collimator lens in an orthogonal direction to an optical axis of the collimator lens.